Self-test fire control system for toy gun

ABSTRACT

The self-test fire control system for a toy gun includes a power unit and a control unit connected to the power unit and configured with a self-test software application. The power unit includes a power module and a driver module. The control unit includes a voltage monitor module, a regulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, and a trigger ON/OFF module. Before the toy gun is operated, the control unit may test the circuit switches, the gear set, and the battery so as to see if there is an incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor, spring, battery, or gear set. As such, corrective actions or repairs may be performed and the reliability of the toy gun is enhanced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (a) Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to toy guns and, moreparticularly, to a self-test fire control system for a toy gun capableof preventing malfunction.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

Military simulation games are gaining popularity and various types ofreplica weapons are developed and marketed, such as BB guns, paintballguns, airsoft guns, etc. Based on their power, toy guns may becategorized as airsoft guns, electrically powered guns, and gas-poweredguns. For electrically powered guns, electricity powers mechanical parts(e.g., motor, gears) to compress spring and to shoot pellets.Electrically powered guns usually involve electronic control.

For toy guns with the electronic trigger is already commerciallyavailable. They usually include a control module and a power module forfire control. The components, i.e., motor, spring, battery, and gears,are most difficult to control, and are most susceptible to erroneousoperation. Especially when one of the components is replaced by theuser, incompatibility between components may occur, causing malfunctionand power consumption. Therefore tuning and adjustment is oftenrequired. For example, a three-round burst fire may suffer unstablecurrent from the battery and adjustment to other components may berequired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A major objective of the present invention is to provide a self-testfire control system for toy guns capable detecting the compatibilitybetween the motor, spring, battery, and gears, so as to preventmalfunction and to enhance operation reliability.

The self-test fire control system includes a power unit and a controlunit connected to the power unit and configured with a self-testsoftware application. The power unit includes a power module and adriver module. The control unit includes a voltage monitor module, aregulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, anda trigger ON/OFF module. Before the toy gun is operated, the controlunit may test the circuit switches, the gear set, and the battery so asto see if there is an incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor,spring, battery, or gear set. As such, corrective actions or repairs maybe performed and the reliability of the toy gun is enhanced.

To provide different fire modes, the toy gun provides a fire selectionpiece, an interrupted/burst mode microswitch, the trigger microswitch,the interrupted mode microswitch, and the three-round burst modemicroswitch. The fire selection piece is engaged by a control dial tomove and drive the various microswitches so as to operate the toy gun indifferent fire modes.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introductionto the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects ofthe present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detaileddescription of the invention and the claims should be read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specificationand drawings, identical reference numerals refer to identical or similarparts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will becomemanifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic diagrams showing a self-test fire controlsystem according to an embodiment of the present invention configured ontoy guns.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the self-test fire controlsystem of FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the self-test fire control system ofFIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing magnetic flux paths of theinductor assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective break-down diagram showing a self-test firecontrol system according to a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow diagrams showing the self-test steps of theself-test fire control system of FIGS. 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a self-test fire control system for a toy gun1 includes a power unit 2 and a control unit 3. The control unit 3 isconfigured with a software application and is connected to the powerunit 2. The toy gun 1 includes a fire selection piece 11, a safety blockpiece 12, a trigger 13, an intenupted/burst mode control piece 14, anintenupted/burst mode microswitch 15, a trigger microswitch 16, aninterrupted mode microswitch 17, a three-round burst mode microswitch18, a motor 19, a gear set 20, a spring 21, and a battery 22. Theelectricity stored in the battery 22 powers the motor 19 to compress thespring 21 through the gear set 20 so as to shoot pellets. The gear set20 includes a cam 201 that may engage the interrupted/burst mode controlpiece 14, which in turn presses against the intenupted/burst modemicroswitch 15. Whenever the gear set 20 has made a turn, theinterrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and theinterrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once.

The power unit 2 includes a power module 23 and a driver module 24. Thebattery 22 is connected to the power module 23 for providing electricityto the toy gun 1. The motor 19 is connected to the driver module 24 fordriving the motor 19. The driver module 24 includes a main Metal OxideSemiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) 241 and an auxiliaryMOSFET 242. The control unit 3 includes a voltage monitor module 31, aregulator module 32, an indicator module 33, a fire mode selectionmodule 34, and a trigger ON/OFF module 35. The voltage monitor module 31and the regulator module 32 are for monitoring and stably andeconomically providing electrical voltage from the battery 22. Theinterrupted/burst mode microswitch 15, the interrupted mode microswitch17, and the three-round burst mode micro switch 18 are respectivelyconnected to the fire mode selection module 34. The trigger micro switch16 is connected to the trigger ON/OFF module 35.

The fire selection piece 11 is engaged by a control dial to move anddrive the various microswitches such as the interrupted/burst modemicroswitch 15, the trigger microswitch 16, the interrupted modemicroswitch 17, and the three-round burst mode microswitch 18 so as tooperate the toy gun 1 in different fire modes. Before firing, thecontrol unit 2 tests the gear set 20, the interrupted/burst modemicroswitch 15, the trigger microswitch 16, the interrupted modemicroswitch 17, and the three-round burst mode microswitch 18, and thebattery 22, so as to detect whether there is incompatibility between ormalfunction in the motor 19, the spring 21, and the battery 22.Therefore erroneous operation may be prevented and required adjustmentmay be made, thereby enhancing the reliability of the toy gun 1.

The operation of the present invention is described as follows.

When the toy gun 1 is set in the safety mode, the fire selection piece11 is pushed to a foremost position, the safety block piece 12 israised, and the trigger 13 is stuck. The toy gun 1 therefore cannot befired.

When the toy gun 1 is set in the interrupted mode, the fire selectionpiece 11 is pushed to press the interrupted mode microswitch 17, thesafety block piece 12 is freed, and the trigger 13 is operable to engagethe trigger switch 16, which sends a signal to the control unit 3. Thecontrol unit 3 drives the gear set 20 to make a turn, theinterrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and theinterrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once. The electricityis then cut off.

When the toy gun 1 is set in the three-round burst mode, the fireselection piece 11 is pushed to press both the interrupted modemicroswitch 17 and the three-round burst mode microswitch 18, the safetyblock piece 12 is freed, and the trigger 13 is operable to engage thetrigger switch 16, which sends a signal to the control unit 3. Thecontrol unit 3 drives the gear set 20 to make a turn, theinterrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and theinterrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once. The electricityis then cut off after the control unit 3 repeats the process threetimes.

When the toy gun 1 is set in the automatic fire mode, the fire selectionpiece 11 retreats so that no microswitch is pressed, the safety blockpiece 12 is freed, and the trigger 13 is operable to engage the triggerswitch 16, which sends a signal to the control unit 3. The control unit3 drives the gear set 20 to make a turn, the interrupted/burst modecontrol piece 14 is engaged once, and the interrupted/burst modemicroswitch 15 is turned on once. The electricity is not cut off untilthe trigger 13 releases and the trigger microswitch 16.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the self-test performed by the presentembodiment is as follows.

To enter the test mode, the toy gun 1's upper and lower parts aredisassembled first. Under any fire mode except the safety mode (i.e.,the safety block piece 12 is in the safety position), entering the testmode is achieved by pressing the trigger 13 and then connecting thebattery 22.

The control unit 3 first tests the voltage of the battery 22 andinstructs the indicator module 33 to present voltage status. Forexample, if the battery 22 is full, a green lamp is flashed attwo-second intervals and, if the battery 22 is low, a red lamp stays on.If the trigger 13 is pressed, the control unit 3 drives the motor 19 toturn the gear set 20.

Then, the control unit 3 tests the trigger microswitch 16 and instructsthe indicator module 33 to present test result. For example, if themicroswitch 16 responds within five second, an orange lamp stays on;otherwise, the green lamp is flashed at ten-second intervals.

Then, when setting the toy gun 1 to the interrupted mode, the controlunit 3 tests if a correct mode switch signal is received and instructsthe indicator module 33 to present test result. For example, if thecorrect mode switch signal is received within ten seconds, the greenlamp stays on; otherwise, the red lamp stays on.

Then, when setting the toy gun 1 to the three-round burst mode, thecontrol unit 3 tests if a correct mode switch signal is received andinstructs the indicator module 33 to present test result. For example,if the correct mode switch signal is received within ten seconds, thegreen lamp stays on; otherwise, the red lamp stays on.

The control unit 3 then tests the two MOSFETs 241 and 242. If theMOSFETs are normal (e.g., not short-circuited), instructs the indicatormodule 33 to present test result. For example, the green lamp stays on;otherwise, the orange lamp stays on. If the green lamp is on, thecontrol unit 3 also triggers the motor 19 to drive the gear set 20 tomake a turn as a prompt.

Finally, the control unit 3 engages the motor 19 to drive the gear set20 to make turns and the indicator module 33 is instructed to show thatself-test is over by, for example, flashing the green lamp. A user maypress the trigger 13 once to exit the self-test mode. The motor 19drives the gear set 20 to turn three times to acknowledge that theself-test is over. The user then may assemble the upper and lower partsof the toy gun 1 and start using the toy gun 1.

In the above self-test process, if there is some anomaly, the controlunit 3 determines the degree of severity and instructs the indicatormodule 33 to present the anomaly differently. For example, if theanomaly is related to the gear set 20, the motor 19, or theinterrupted/burst mode control piece 14, the red lamp is flashed,signaling that the anomaly is the most severe one. If the anomaly isrelated to the two MOSFETs, the red lamp stays on, signaling that theanomaly is less severe. If the anomaly is related to the trigger 13, theorange lamp is flashed, signaling that the anomaly is the least severeone. Prompted by these indicator lights, the user should disconnect thebattery 22 and perform corrective action and repair.

In the above self-test process, to see if the spring 21 and the gear set20 are compatible, the control unit 3 determines the interval that theinterrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is engaged by theinterrupted/burst mode control piece 14 when the gear set 20 makes aturn, and tests the rotation speed of the gear set 20 by making the gearset 20 to turn several times. Then the spring 21 is too tight if therotational speed is too low, or the spring 21 is too loose if therotational speed is too high.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claimsof the present invention.

1. A self-test fire control system for a toy gun, the toy gun having afire selection piece, a safety block piece, an interrupted/burst modecontrol piece, a trigger, a motor, a gear set, a spring, and a batterywhere the electricity stored in the battery powers the motor to compressthe spring through the gear set so as to shoot pellets, the self-testfire control system comprising: a power unit comprising a power moduleconnected to the battery for providing electricity to the toy gun, and adriver module connecting and driving the motor; and a control unitconfigured with a self-test software application and connected to thepower unit where the control unit comprises a voltage monitor module, aregulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, anda trigger ON/OFF module, the fire mode selection module sets the toy gunto operate in different fire modes, and, before the toy gun is operated,the control unit tests the microswitches, the gear set, and the batteryso as to see if there is incompatibility between or anomaly in themotor, spring, battery, or gear set and if corrective action should beperformed, thereby enhancing the reliability of the toy gun.
 2. Theself-test fire control system according to claim 1, wherein the toy guncomprises an interrupted/burst mode microswitch, an interrupted modemicroswitch, and a three-round burst mode micro switch, respectivelyconnected to the fire mode selection module; and the toy gun furthercomprises a trigger microswitch connected to the trigger ON/OFF module.3. The self-test fire control system according to claim 1, wherein thegear set comprises a cam for engaging the interrupted/burst mode controlpiece; the interrupted/burst mode control piece presses against theinterrupted/burst mode microswitch; when the gear set has made a turn,the interrupted/burst mode control piece is engaged once; and, to see ifthe spring and the gear set are compatible, the control unit determinesan interval that the interrupted/burst mode microswitch is engaged bythe interrupted/burst mode control piece.
 4. The self-test fire controlsystem according to claim 1, wherein the driver module comprises a mainMetal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and anauxiliary MOSFET.
 5. The self-test fire control system according toclaim 2, wherein the gear set comprises a cam for engaging theinterrupted/burst mode control piece; the interrupted/burst mode controlpiece presses against the interrupted/burst mode microswitch; when thegear set has made a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece isengaged once; and, to see if the spring and the gear set are compatible,the control unit determines an interval that the interrupted/burst modemicroswitch is engaged by the interrupted/burst mode control piece.
 6. Aself-test method for a fire control system of a toy gun, comprising thesteps of: a) entering a test mode of the fire control system after thetoy gun's upper and lower parts are disassembled, a trigger of the toygun is pressed, and a battery of the toy gun is connected; b) testingthe battery's voltage and instructing an indicator module of the firecontrol system to present voltage status by a control unit of the firecontrol system, and driving a motor of the toy gun to turn a gear set ofthe toy gun if the trigger is pressed; c) testing a trigger microswitchof the toy gun and instructing the indicator module to present topresent test result by the control unit; d) testing if a correct modeswitch signal is received after the toy gun is set to an interruptedmode and instructing the indicator module to present test result by thecontrol unit; e) testing if a correct mode switch signal is receivedafter the toy gun is set to a three-round burst mode and instructing theindicator module to present test result by the control unit; f) testingtwo MOSFETs of a driver module of the fire control system, instructingthe indicator module to present test result, and triggering the motor todrive the gear set to make a turn as a prompt if the MOSFETs are normal;and g) engaging the motor to drive the gear set to make a plurality ofturns, instructing the indicator module to present test result, exitingthe test mode and triggering the motor to drive the gear set to turnthree times to acknowledge that the test mode is over if the trigger ispressed once.
 7. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6,wherein, if there is some anomaly, the control unit determines thedegree of severity and instructs the indicator module to present theanomaly differently.
 8. The self-test fire control system according toclaim 6, wherein, in step g, an interval that an interrupted/burst modemicroswitch of the toy gun is engaged by an interrupted/burst modecontrol piece of the toy when the gear set makes a turn is determined,and whether a spring of the toy gun and the gear set is compatible. 9.The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, if thebattery's voltage is too low tested in step b, the control unit cuts offthe battery's electricity provision.
 10. The self-test fire controlsystem according to claim 6, wherein, in step f, the MOSFETs are normalif, when one is ON, the other is OFF.
 11. The self-test fire controlsystem according to claim 6, wherein, in step g, if the motor does notturn, the MOSFETs are turned off.
 12. The self-test fire control systemaccording to claim 6, wherein, in step b, if the trigger is not pressedwithin an interval, setting the control unit to enter a sleep mode andwaking the control unit after the trigger is pressed.